Heat-controlling device.



W. M. FULTON.

HEAT CONTROLLING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 24, 1905.

906,700. Patented Dec. 15, 1908,

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. ably UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WESTON M. FULTON, OF KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR TO THE FULTON COMPANY,

OF KNOXVILLE, TENNESSEE, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

HEAT-CONTROLLING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 15, 1908.

Application filed March 24, 1905. Serial No. 251,913.

of a gaseous body subjected to the fluctua-v tions in temperature of the steam or hot water to control the draft of a furnace and thereby controlling the temperature of the steam or hot water.

In this class of regulators in which a col-.

lapsible and eXpa-nsible metal wall is used, it would be impractical to expose such .thin walls to actual contact with the steam or hotwater, for the reason that the Walls would not be strong enough to withstand the necessary pressure, and to thicken such Walls would greatly lessen their flexibility and detract from the sensitiveness of the device. To overcome such. objections and secure the advantages of using a collapsible and expansible metal wall, I interpose a rigid heatconducting wall between the corrugated wall and the heated fluid under pressure, thereby protecting the latter from fluid pressure while permitting the fluctuations of temperature of the steam or hot water to act on the confined gaseous bod to lengthen or contract the corrugated wa 1.

Certain mechanical expressions of the in-' ventive idea involved are shown in the ac-, companying drawings, which are designed merely as illustrations, and not as defining the limits thereof.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a vertical central section of one form of regulator designed for use with hi 'hressure steam; Fig. 2 is a similar view of a orm of the invention useful in connection with hot water heaters; and Fig. 3 is a modification of the form shown in Fig. 2.

Referring to Fig. .1, 1 is a dome, preferof cast, iron and cylindrical in shape,

end, having a screwconnecting the dome is a screw-threaded 2 is a hub, at its lower threaded opening 4 for directly to a boiler. 5

openingfl in the bottom of the dome for respace within the collapsible ceiving an air-escape pipe 6, opening near t.he top of the dome and provided at its opposite end with a cock 7 for permitting the escape of air from the dome when the steam enters inletyl from the boiler for the first time. From the bottom of the dome extends a flange 8 for receiving the end of a corrugated sheet-metal wall 9, which is secured to flange 8, by means of a metal ring 10, shrunk on over the sheet metal, thereby forming a steam-tight joint between the dome and corrugated metal wall. 11 is a rigid end wall made fast to the end of vessel 9, as by welding or brazing. For transmitting the movements of the corrugated wall, translating means or devices are employed. To this end a plate 12 is made fast to end 11 and carries a rod 13, provided at its end with a slot 14, for receiving a pivotally-supported lever 15. A casing 16, made fast at its bottom to ring 10, surrounds vessel 9 forming a protecting jacket therefor, and supports at its upper end: a late 17, provided with lugs 18, 19, preferab y integral therewith. Lug 18 receives lever 15 in a slot 20, and supports the same by a pivot pin 21. Slot 22 111 lug 19,-serves to guide and limit the extent of movement of the lever 15. One end of the lever 15 is provided with a damper chain 23, and the other with an adjustable weight 23' and a scale 24.

- The space inclosed by the corrugated walls of the collapsible vessel and the steam dome is charged with a gaseous body, preferably the saturated vapor of some liquid whose boiling point corresponds with the temperature of steam at the desired pressure. For example, it is desired to maintain a steam pressure of 75 pounds per square inch, the temperature of which is 320 degrees F. The

vessel 1, is exhausted of air and then turpentine introduced which has a boiling point of substantially 320 degrees F. and the vessel hermetically sealed.

The device thus described operates as follows: The dome 1 is coupled to the steam boiler, not shown, and the chain 23 connected to the damper or dampers to be operated. The cock 7 is opened to )ermit the escape of air and then closed. s long as the; temperature of the steam remains below that of the boiling oint of the turpentine, there will be no motion of the-wall 11, since the tension of the vapor of the turpentine is below atmospheric pressure for all temperatures below 320 degrees F. Above this temperature its tension exceeds atmospheric pressure, thereby forcing wall 11 upwards together with rod 13, and shifting lever arm 15 which, acting through chain 23, effects the closing ofthe draft damper. temperature falls the reverse of this action results and the chain 23 opens the draft damper.

It will be noted that the range of motion of the wall 11 is limited by wall 17 of the casing, and the top wall of thedome 1 so that 1t cannot exceed these limits which determine the range within which the vessel and other'parts may move without danger of injurin the-walls of the vessel or other parts. W en it is desired to set the device to become operative at a higher temperature, the weight 23' is slid outward on the arm 15 increasing the pressure to be overcome by the vapor 'in the chamber, and therefore the temperature to secure this pressure.

Fig. 2 shows a form of the regulator particularly applicable to the control of temperature-in hot water systems, but it is also applicable to steam boilers. 24 is a cylindrical shell, preferably of cast iron, having parallel walls 25, 26, forming between them a space for receiving hot water. 27, 27, are screw-threaded members for connecting the shell 24 with a hot water boiler. 28 is a corrugated sheet metal wall, having a rigid end plate 29, brazed or welded thereto and its upper end 30 made fast to a ledge 31 on the top of shell 24. 32 is a plate loosely resting on ledge 31 and held in position by set screws 33, passing through extensions on shell 24 and entering a groove or slot 34 in the periphery of late 32. Brazed or otherwise securedto t e rigid wall 29 is a plate 35, receiving a rod 36, carrying a coll'ar37,

made fast thereto by a pin 38. The end of' rod 36 is provided with. a slot 39, and supports a .cap 40, secured to the rod by a set screw 41. This cap is provided with a U- shaped standard for pivotally supporting a lever 42 connected at one end to the damper to be operated, the other end carrying an adjustable w'eight, as shown in Fig. 1. On top plate 32are lugs 43 and 44, the former constituting a bearlng for lever'42, and the other serving to limit its play, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. 45 is a cock for esca e of air.

. The space-within the wa s 28 of the collapsible vessel a'nd wall 26 of the shell 24 is charged withlasuitable fluid sensitive to 7 '-;changes of temperature.

In case the re ulator is to' be attached to a hot water boiler whose contents are to be kept at from 180 degrees F. :to 200 degrees F., the fluid employed is llpreferably carbon tetra chlorid whose bo' mg. point is about the same as the'lowest temperature'at which the regulater is to operate. This fluid is introduced When the.

eoaxmo into the colla sible 'vessel as described in connection wit Fig.1 above.

In operation thedevice having been connected to the 'hotewater boiler, by means-of connections; 27, 27, the air is permitted to escape from the shell '24 by opening cook 45, the hot water entering the shell throughconnections 27,27 and filling the same. When its temperature reaches the rection by wall 29 meeting wall 26 of the shell 24. For all temperatures below the boiling point of the-heat-sensitive fluid, the atmospheric pressure tends; to force wall 29 towards wall 26, and for temperatures above its boiling point the pressure within the vessel 28 tends to collapse the vessel. Undue extension and contraction are provided for, however, by limiting the range of motion as above explained.

The space inclosed by plates 32, 35 and wall 28, which is open to the atmosphere,

may be filled with a lagging material such 'as mineral wool, but preferably it is left vacant to form a dea'd air-space which serves the same purpose. .By loosening set screws 34 and 41, plate 32 may be rotated in either direction to adjust the lever 42 with respect to the dampers. A weight is also provided for arm 42 by moving which in one direction or the other the temperature at which the regulator will begin to act may be made to vary.

invention in which the bottom wall 26 of' Fig. 2 is indented upward, forming the reentering bottom wall 46 of the. collapsible and expansible vessel of Fig. .3. In this modification the end .ofizhe corrugated wall 47 is made fast at 48 to the wall of the cas-. ing or shell 24, and its upper end secured to end wall 49 which, with walls 46 and 47 constitute the space for receiving the heatsensitive agent. This form of construction Fig. 3 is a further modification of thc iio enables a greater heating surface to exert its influence on the collapsible and expansible vcssehby reason ofgreater amount of hot water space, and enables the regulator to more quickly respond to variations of tem- Its operation in other respects is like the other perature of; the' water in the boiler.

forms previously descrlbed.

Although this invention has been described as applicable to operating dampers for furnaces for raising steam and heating water, 1t may be used in other relations where 1t-1s deslred to. control valves, switchesor similar devices by variations of temperature in steam or hot water.

Instead of using volatile liquids which will exert a tension only at a predetermined temperature, I may use certain solids which pass directly from the solid state into that of vapor, such as naphthalene and Ike bodies.

; ond rigid metal wall forming with the firstnamed rigid metal wall a heating chamber in heat-interchanging relation for its full length with said first-named chamber, and

- power-transmitting means associated with said movable end closure.

"2. In a heat-controlling device, the combination of a flexible corrugated metal wall having a rigid end closure, aplurality of rigid metal. walls concentric with said cor rugated wall, one of said rigid walls forming with said corrugated wall a closed chamber and confining therein an expansible fluid, said rigid Walls forming with each other a heating chamber in heat-interchanging relation for its full length with said firstnamed-chamber, and power-transmitting means associated with said movable end closure.

3. In a heat-controlling device, the combination of a flexible corrugated metal Wall having a movable rigid end closure, a rigid metal wall concentric with said corrugated wall exterior thereto, and forming with the same a closed chamber and confining therein an expansible fluid, a second rigld metal wall forming with the first-namedrigid wall a heating chamber in heat-interchangin relation for its full length with said rstnamed chamber, and power-transmitting means associated with said end closure.

at. In a heat-controlling device, the combination of a flexible corrugated metal wall having a movable rigid end closure, a rigid metal wall concentric with said corrugated Wall and forming. therewith a closed chamber and confining therein an expansible fluid, a

second rigid metal wall forming with the first namedrigid metal wall a heating chamber in heat-interchanging relation for its full length with said first-named chamber, a power-transmitting rod for engaging said movable end closure, a damper lever engaging said rod, and supporting means for said lever angularly adjustable about said rod.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

, WESTON M. FULTON.

Witnesses:

W. W. BERRY, E. J. HYAT'I. 

